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When Mum – Anne – was 22, she faded from the lives of most of the people who knew her. She didn’t play on her basketball team or go to parties. She didn’t go to work. She took a semester off studying.

Mia Freedman spoke to Anne Stephens, our mum, on a special Mother’s Day episode of No Filter. You can listen to the episode right here. Post continues below.

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From the cafe across the street, we watch the tall man, his feet pointed outwards, put his arms around Mum. The person whose heartbeat he first listened to. Whose stomach he kicked from the inside. Who held him for a few moments, then let him go.

Jessie, Andrew, Anne, Clare, Lisa. Image supplied.

Mum watches him, mostly. She can’t quite believe it. He is eloquent and charismatic - the person everyone likes. He probably doesn’t recognise the look on Mum’s face. But we do. It’s adoration. Complete and utter adoration.

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